The decision of the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing to revoke the Australian Vaccination Network’s charitable status will no doubt have a substantial impact on the group. Julie Leask unpacks some anti-vaccination myths.
Vaccination
Australia comes down with flu vaccine fever
Panic has broken out in Australia following the death a two-year-old died after receiving a flu shot. But are kids really at risk, or is this just a hot flush? New Scientist lays out the numbers.
What do vaccine sceptics have in common with climate change deniers?
The climate change issue could learn a lot from immunisation debates. Both have a pressing need for action, a minority element attempting to stymie progress and a scientific community looking on in dismay, writes Dr Julie Leask.
The Lancet: We were wrong: MMR vaccine does not cause autism
Medical journal The Lancet formally retracts a now discredited paper it published 12 years ago, which linked the measles mumps rubella vaccine to autism and caused widespread panic amongst parents.
Why I’ve been vaccinated against swine flu: an expert’s account
The world’s response to swine flu may have been a bit hysterical, and the disease may be largely innocuous, but getting vaccinated against H1N1 is still vital, says Sydney infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy.
Vaccinating against the power of The Google
These days consumers have access to a wealth of health information. So why would they listen to a journalist? Well, The Google doesn’t know everything, writes Nick Miller. Factual analysis is worthy too.
Where are all the autistic adults?
The first ever census of autistic adults has been conducted and contrary to popular belief, autism affects sufferers across all age groups. This helps to dispel the ‘autism boom caused by vaccines’ myth.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Executive Remuneration
Crikey readers weigh in on how measuring the obscenity of executive remuneration, the danger of footpaths and the South Ossetian war between Georgia and Russia.
Infuenza vaccination: the case against
With the national rollout of pandemic influenza vaccination beginning today, an international expert on influenza vaccination and a leading US consumer advocate have raised several questions for Australian health authorities.
Influenza vaccination: the case for
Dr Michael Wooldridgeresponds to Peter Collignon in the debate about swine flu vaccination: “vaccination will stop this epidemic in its tracks”.
Mass vaccinations for Swine Flu: learning from hindsight
We do not seem to have learned much since 1976 when a swine flu virus outbreak went through Fort Dix in the US, writes Peter Collignon.
What Roxon failed to mention about the swine flu vaccination
Health Minister Nicola Roxon is busy peddling the benefits of the swine flu vaccine, while Croakey examines the past perils of health ministers spruiking pharmaceuticals.
Better tactics needed to fight anti-vaccination
Health professionals often seem to think you can just feed vaccine dissenters the facts, educate them and this will correct wayward thinking. But that isn’t working, says Dr Julie Leask. So what will?
Swine flu vaccine’s image problem
Public demand for the new swine flu vaccine may be underwhelming, writes Dr Julie Leask. For people to want a vaccine they must not only believe it is safe. They must also think it is necessary.
Infection control experts add to concerns about multidose flu vaccine
The Australian Infection Control Association has warned the Federal Government against proceeding with the planned swine flu vaccination program due to health risk concerns, writes Melissa Sweet.
No more deadly than your average non-swine flu
Fear can drive us to make hasty decisions that are not necessarily based on good and robust data. This is exactly what has happened with the swine flue outbreak, writes Professor Peter Collignon.
Roald Dahl to Brits: please immunise your kids
The children’s author — who dedicated James and the Giant Peach to his daughter Olivia who died of measles — implored parents 23 years ago to let their kids be vaccinated.
How social media’s viral networks are the new antibiotics
Dana Elizabeth McCaffery died of whooping cough at four weeks of age, but she may the future face of social media disease advocacy in Australia, writes Craig Dalton.
